PHILIPPINES: ELECTION INTEREST GATHERS PACE AS VOTERS PREPARE TO GO TO THE POLLS FOR FIRST ELECTIONS SINCE MARTIAL LAW WAS DECLARED.
Record ID:
328927
PHILIPPINES: ELECTION INTEREST GATHERS PACE AS VOTERS PREPARE TO GO TO THE POLLS FOR FIRST ELECTIONS SINCE MARTIAL LAW WAS DECLARED.
- Title: PHILIPPINES: ELECTION INTEREST GATHERS PACE AS VOTERS PREPARE TO GO TO THE POLLS FOR FIRST ELECTIONS SINCE MARTIAL LAW WAS DECLARED.
- Date: 5th April 1978
- Summary: 1. SV PULL OUT TO GV Congress building with barricades (2 shots) 0.08 2. GV & SV Papers unloaded at building with banner reading "Commissions on Elections" 0.14 3. CU Ballot boxes PULL OUT TO GV building 0.21 4. SV & CU KBL posters 0.27 5. CU KBL advertising in newspaper 0.32 6. GVs KBL rally in Manila (2 shots) 0.43 7. GV KBL organisers handing out leaflets 0.50 8. SV President Marcos being applauded and introducing his wife, Imelda 1.05 9. GV Mrs. Marcos at microphone addressing crowd 1.38 10. GV & SV Crowd with arms outstretched, as flowers and leaflets are thrown towards them (2 shots) 1.50 Initials BB/2320 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 20th April 1978 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- Country: Philippines
- Reuters ID: LVA2M7IJ12M5FKLFBKHLNRIZCKQX
- Story Text: Voters in the Philippines go to the polls on Friday (7 April) to elect a new interim National Assembly. It is the first time an election has been held there since martial law was declared in 1972.
SYNOPSIS: With the opposition People's Power Party limiting their election campaign to 21 seats in Manila, President Marcos and his New Society Movement are assured of a large majority in the 200-seat National Assembly. The President's wife, Mrs. Imelda Marcos, is running against opposition for one of the capital's seats, instead of seeking an unopposed provincial seat. The New Society Movement, known as KBL, is running its campaign seriously.
KBL organise their rallies shrewdly, and shape their campaigning on their record during five years of martial law administration. In Manila, government supporters stress the city's growth and development during Mrs. Marcos's years as governor.
President Marcos automatically sits in the new chamber as Prime Minister. He has said the elections will be clean, free and honest, and has made many public appearances to support his wife's campaign.
Despite the claims of the KBL leadership, the run-up to this week's election has been troubled. Police an para-military units went on full alert after a series of small bomb blasts during the past two weeks. Discontent is growing within the opposition party at the continued imprisonment of their leader, Benigno Aquino, a former senator. He has been in prison for five and a -half years on charges of murder and political subversion. Observers believe that, with no real leadership and dwindling political funds, the People's Power Party will be unable to match the forceful campaigning of Mrs. Marcos and her supporters.
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